As Nigeria celebrate 59th Independence, agriculture stakeholders have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to create an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive, saying it is capable of providing over 75 per cent of jobs.
Some of the stakeholders, who spoke in separate interviews on Tuesday in Abuja said agriculture was the way forward for Nigeria and “must be given a voice”.
Mr Daniel Okafor, the National President Potato Farmers Association (POFAN) said that agriculture was the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and should be given attention because of its capacity to boost the country’s GDP.
“But the growth and development of the sector is very important but government departments and agencies are not working to develop the sector due to selfish reasons.”
He however urged government departments to do the needful by ensuring that the agriculture policy was formulated and stakeholders should be involved in the implement and monitor the progress of the implementation.
He said that food and nutritional value chain was the key to the success of agricultural development, adding that research and implementation of agricultural projects was needed to achieve it.
“And without food security, people will not do anything because the agriculture sector can even provide employment opportunities to about 75 per cent.”
Okafor advised that more inputs and fund be made available at five per cent for land clearing, tractors and other inputs early for farmers.
He said that climate smart agriculture was needed and more rural roads should be developed to ensure availability of food.
“Exports of finish products should be incorporated into our agriculture policy, women and youths should be participating in agriculture implementation.”
Mrs Halima Njobdi, the Director General, LUGAVO Cooperatives &8called on the Federal Government to give agriculture an enabling environment to thrive.
“If the agriculture sector is properly funded and given attention, it can create jobs for more than 75 per cent of Nigerians,” she said.
She said that farmers were more united then ever because they had settled their differences “and they have come to see that agriculture has voice”.
Hajia Salamatu Garba, the Founder, Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) congratulated Nigerians on it celebration of 59th independence and advised youths and women to get more involved in agriculture.
She said that agriculture should be taken seriously “as it is the only sector that can end hunger and create means of livelihood.
